July 6, 2005
By Lucky Sindane
IT IS just two months into the City's drive to register indigent households, and already 37 000 people have applied for the municipal services subsidy, and R510-million in debt has been written off.
The campaign to register indigent households was launched in Soweto by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Amos Masondo on 4 May.
The City provides free each month six kilolitres of water to all households and 50 kilowatts of electricity to those supplied by City Power. Also, the City does not charge assessment rates on properties valued at less than R20 001.
The municipal services subsidy covers the remaining charges for refuse removal and sanitation. Those who qualify for the subsidy have their arrears written off.
"We are registering an average of 1 000 account holders a day," says Mandy Jean Woods, the spokesperson for the revenue department. "[This] exceeds our expectations by several hundreds. The majority of all registrations come from the Soweto area."
Of those who have registered already, 57 percent are pensioners, 22 percent are unemployed and 12 percent have a low income.
"We have 20 account holders who have indicated they are scholars - that you could consider as child-headed households," Woods adds.
Special registration days are held continuously throughout the city. The next phase includes:
- 6 July to 8 July: registration will take place in Lenasia, specifically for those living in Lenasia South, Lawley 2 and Lenasia;
- 11 July to 13 July: registration will take place in Orange Farm;
- 12 July to 16 July: residents of Ivory Park and Rabie Ridge will be able to register;
- 18 July to 20 July: registration opens at Diepsloot Youth Centre;
- 21 July to 23 July: registration will be held at the Coronationville Rent Office for people living in Jan Hofmeyer, Vrededorp, Mayfair West, Crosby, Meredale and Riverlea; and
- 25 July to 29 July: registration will take place at the Roodepoort City Hall.
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